Water-wheel



No. 6l9,l49. Patented Feb. 7, I899.

'w. A. DUBLE.

WATER WHEEL.

(Application filed Due. 29, 1897.) model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

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Patented Feb. 7, I899.

W. A. DOBLE.

WATER WHEEL.

(Application filed Dec. 29, 1697.) (ModaL) 2 SheetsSheet 2.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM A. DOBLE, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

WATER-WH EEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 619,149, dated February 7, 1899.

Application filed December 29,1897. Serial No. 664.344. (ModeL) To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. DOBLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, county of San Francisco, and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Water-VVheels and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying draw ings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to tangential waterwheels in which the water in jets or streams impinges upon or within a series of buckets attached to the rim of the wheel, and relates especially to water-Wheels of this type adapted for medium heads or pressures and when the jets are of large size or a number are to be applied on one Wheel; also, to the mounting of such wheels.

My present improvements consist, mainly,

in a form of buckets for such wheels that will not split, divide, or disturb the streams or jets of water except in the plane of the wheels rotation. This, as will be hereinafter explained, is an important feature of my invention, which also consists in certain provisions that in the fullest possible degree utilize the reactive force of the jets or streams by presenting reversing-curves in the actual course of the waters movement, taking into account not only its initial force in a direct'line, but also its tendency to remain in one plane of motion, a condition determined by experiment and not commonly recognized in hydraulic apparatus of the kind, and also consists in other constructive features hereinafter pointed out in connection with the drawings, in which- Figure I is a side elevation of a Water-wheel constructed accordingto my invention. Fig. II is a longitudinal elevation, partially in section, of the same water-wheel. Fig. III is a face or front view of one of my improved buckets for tangential Water-wheels. Fig. IV is a side View of the same. Fig. V is a bottom view of Fig. III. Fig. VI is a section on the line a b in Fig. V. Fig. VII is a section on the line 0 cl in Fig. VI. Fig. VIII is a diagram to illustrate the common method of receiving the jets or streams on tangential water-wheels.

WVater-Wheels of the tangential type are especially adapted for high heads or pressure and to run at high velocity. The water being applied thereon by means of nozzles or jets has the dynamic energy due to its gravity and issuing velocity, and also in some degree, not well understood, is subject to What is called kinetic stability, or the tendency of a body in rapid motion to remain in one plane, so the resultant angles of reaction caused by the reversing-curves of water-wheel buckets are not a normal result of these curves, but are divergent therefrom, as is proved by the wear upon the faces and working surfaces and by observing the action of the water projected against the buckets.

In constructing tangential water-wheels the method hitherto has been to divide the jetor stream by a wedge in the center of the buckets, standing in the plane of the wheels rotation, also to divide or divert the water in horizontal planes or parallel to the axis of rotation by means of an end or lip at the extremity of the bucket, or by extending its sides so as to interrupt and divert the Water, either at the same time or before the radial dividing-wedge came in contact with the stream. The distinction of my own from this method of operating will be fully pointed out in a future place.

Referring first to Figs. III to V1 on Sheet II of the drawings, these illustrate one of my im* proved water-wheel buckets adapted to me.- dium heads,as distinguished from the straight form of buckets for higher heads and smaller jets, as set forth in a separate application for Letters Patent on water-Wheels filed by me at the same time herewith.

Reverting first to the reactive motion of the water and referring to Figs. III and IV, the buckets consist of a double trough having at each side inward-curved sloping ends Whose centers of curvature are approximately on the lines m n. The transverse section at the center of the buckets is as shown in Fig. VII, the central intersection of the side curves forming an acute wedge 1, that splits or divides in a radial direction the stream or jet of water discharged against the buckets. The entire bucket thus presents in front elevation the quadrilateral dish form shown in Fig. III, 7

being approximately of the same dimensions each way, with rounded concave corners to receive the deflections on the lines m n, the central dividing-Wedge 1 terminating at a point above the course of the stream or jet and the outer side being cut away entirely in the path of the jet between the points where the curved outer corners 10 10 terminate Without any rentrant portion, thus avoiding the splitting of the jet by any transverse dividing edge, taking up the reaction of the jet by normal curved or dished surfaces on all sides as the jet spreads in all directions on impingement on the central point a of the dividing-' wedge and permittingthe free discharge of the water from the outer corners 10 10 at their cut-away margins. Supposing that a jet or stream of water is discharged on one of the lines 6 or c in Fig. IV against thepoint or on the line a in Fig. III, the natural resultant or angle of reaction should be on the lines b or d accordingly. Such discharge does not, however, take place in these directions, but on or approximately on the lines m or n, accordingly as the line of the jet is above or below the line a. This phenomenon, as it may be called, is well proved by the wearing of the surfaces of the buckets on the lines m or n, while the sides of the buckets at 3 show but little if any wear even when the ends on the line m 'n are worn entirely through. Experiments made by holding the buckets under a jet from a common cook or spigot under even moderate pressure will show a similar deflection of the impinging water from its theoretical course, but not in the same degree as when the buckets are subjected to the conditions of actual use on a water-wheel. The buckets of my improved water-wheel are designed to conform to the course of discharge indicated by the lines mand n, the jet after impingement at or about the point a. diverging not only laterally, but in all directions, the vertical angle of impingement varying between the limits of the lines a e and a, c, Fig. IV. The dish-shaped corners located in the path of the principal lines of discharge m it thus arrest the force of said discharge, transferring its energy to the receding wheel and permitting the Water to escape by gravity downward from the retreating bucket.

Y Reverting next to the impingement of the water against the buckets or its direct effect, this, it will be seen, is not interrupted or interfered with in any way until the jet or stream is divided by the radial wedge 1. To make this more clear, I will. refer tothe diagram Fig. VIII, where this dividing-wedge 1 of my buckets is represented by-the line B O, the cross-section of the stream being indicated by the circle A. The curved lines D show imaginary transverse divisions of the stream produced by a curved lip, 01', in fact, any obstruction entering or interrupting the stream before it is divided by the wedge 1 on the line B C. These lines D denote the progressive entry into the plane of the stream of any obstruction, and may be straight, curved either way, or in any form as the shape of the end of the bucket may determine.

Referring to my improved buckets, the dividing-wedge 1 has in the rear from its point of entrance 7 an upward or retreating angle 8, so the end 7 enters the jet or stream 9 in a manner to avoid disturbance or distortion of the water which has not previously come in contact with any part of the bucket. Below or beyond this point 7 the bucket is cut away at each side in a circular form, as seen in Fig. III, so the sides will not touch the impinging stream 9, but nevertheless furnish at each side in a properposition the required surface for reactive discharge, which takes place approximately on the lines m and n, as before explained. In this manner there is .no division or disturbance of the stream except in the plane of the wheels rotation, and it is to avoid this that the ends of the buckets are cut away at the bottom, omitting the usual outer wall or other obstruction that enters and cleaves the stream and directs it in various and devious directions before it is divided by the radial edge or wedge 1.

diameter can be built up of links, struts, and

plates of iron or steel. The wheel can be inclosed in a case'or left open, as seen in Figs. I and II. The buckets, as shown, are arranged to embrace the rim 4 of the disk or wheel 12 and fastened by rivets 6, but, as will be understood, can be attached in any suitable manner to a wheel of any kind.

Water is applied by means of a nozzle 16, or when required a number of these set, as indicated by lines A, B, O, and D, at various positions tangential to the wheel. The nozzles 16 are preferably circular and may have a gate or valve for all collectively or for each, or nozzles can be removed or added as the power of the wheel is to be varied.

To prevent spray or dripping water from passing through the wall 13, I employ wallboxes provided with a water-guard device consisting of a frame 17, having a diaphragm or division-plate 18, through which the waterwheel shaft 19 passes loosely. In the frame 17 I fasten a plate 20, having a reverselycurved lip or fiange'21, that catches and returns down the inclined bottom 22 of the box 17 any water that follows the shaft 19 and is thrown off by the centrifugal disk 23, attached to and revolving with the shaft 19. The outer bearing 15 being subject to spray and otherwise exposed to the water and being preferably made with an oil-cell below the bearing surfaces, as shown at 24, also requires protection by similar devices from water, which if it enters the bearing soon floats out the oil therein.

The disks 23 can be either solid and keyed.

on the shaft 19 or made in two halves, both of which methods are shown in Fig. II.

Having thus described the nature and objects of my invention, I claim- 1. A bucket for a tangential water-wheel, in quadrilateral dish form, with rounded concave corners, havinga central dividing-wedge in the plane of the wheel, and a clearancepassage for the stream at the terminus of said wedge, substantially as specified.

2. A water-wheel comprisinga shaft, a supporting-disk, and a series of buckets attached to the periphery of said disk, said buckets being concave, with concave rounded corners, having central dividing-wedges in the plane of the wheel, and clearance-passages for the stream at the terminus of said central dividing-wedges, substantially as specified.

3. In a water-wheel, a series of buckets attached to the periphery thereof, the buckets curved toward, or presenting concave faces to the stream at both their sides and ends, and a dividing-wedge to split the stream or streams of water applied, this Wedge terminating in an end 7, and joining there an open passage through the bottom or outer end of the bucket, so the sides and ends thereof will extend below or beyond but not touch the stream until the dividing-wedge enters the same, substantially as shown.

4:. In a tangential water-wheel, a series of buckets of quadrilateral dish form, with rounded concave corners, having central dividing-wedges rising to the plane of the outer sides, and clearance-passages for the stream at the terminus of said central wedge, substantially as specified.

5. In combination, the wall box or housing 17, having inwardly-inclined bottom 22, the 

